24 BY THE DEEP SEA. 



which appear to be paralysed by contact with the pseudopodia. 

 They also seem to derive part of their nutriment from the 

 exertions of some minute yellow-bodies, a species of algse 

 (XanthellcE) that are lodgers within their substance. These 

 lowly plants, which have sometimes been incorrectly alluded 

 to as parasites, elaborate starchy products by the aid of their 

 chlorophyll, and on their death this material is available for 

 the nutrition of the Polycistin, which also can make use of 

 the oxygen given off by the plant. 



There is one of these low forms of life in which almost all 

 visitors to the sea-shore take an interest or rather they are 

 interested in certain signs of its vital activity the mysterious 

 phosphorescence of the sea. There is no moon visible, the 

 sea is quiet, and our reader late in the evening takes a stroll 

 along the edge of the waves, " before turning in." He is 

 charmed to see the ripples as they break upon the shore 

 brightly outlined with glow-worm light, and stays long to enjoy 

 the elfish illumination. Now my advice is, do not stay long, 

 but hasten back to your " diggings " and get a bottle ; then 

 return and fill it with sea-water at a spot where the phosphor- 

 escence is most abundant. You can then examine the crea- 

 ture that produces the strange light. 



If now you continue your stroll along to that part of the sea- 

 wall where the male villagers most chiefly congregate to spin 

 yarns with a more or less saline flavour, and to discuss village 

 politics, you will probably hear them talking about fishing 

 prospects, and if it is in early summer, mackerel will be in their 

 talk. " Well," says one, " there's no doubt the fish are about, 

 and I propose that we get the sean-boats ready, and to- 

 morrow night we'll try the briming." The meaning of which 

 dark saying is that to-morrow evening they will row across the 

 bay till they come under the shadow of the great headland, 

 and there they will adapt the focus of their eyes to seeing 

 below the surface of the crystal waters, and watching for the 

 streaks of phosphorescent light that break from the fins and 

 tails and scales of the mackerel as they pass through the sea. 



